I snapped the first photo of these women admiring the sweeping view of Paris from the loggia at Opéra Garnier. While I could have zoomed in tighter, I opted to frame them between the two pillars. The wide 24mm equivalent makes the generous loggia look even larger.

Of course, I also had to take in and document the view. Paris is known for its grand boulevards, and the near symmetry of the surrounding architecture makes for a lovely scene that is dynamic and cosmopolitan but very different from New York City.

You are looking straight down Avenue de l’Opéra which dead ends at the Louvre Museum. Built between 1864 and 1879, it was part of the extensive Haussmann renovation of Paris commissioned by Emperor Napoleon III. This significant renovation was intended to clear out the old and overcrowded medieval neighborhoods, creating the distinctive street plan of Paris that we see today.

The cross street parallel with the Opera is Boulevard des Italiens, which is considerably older than Avenue de l’Opéra, which dates from a hundred years earlier.

Blog readers, you’ll love my free monthly photography magazine. Signup for the free magazine to get articles and topics not discussed on the blog.